Emergency Preparedness Week is May 4 to 10 – Ask yourself: How prepared are you?

Whitby, Ontario – This Emergency Preparedness Week (May 4 to 10), Durham Region is reminding you that emergencies can happen at any time—but a little planning can make a big difference. Emergency Preparedness Week is an opportunity for residents to take small, manageable steps now, so they’re ready when it counts.

Throughout the week, the Region will be sharing practical tips and reminders to help households across Durham build resilience—whether it’s updating an emergency kit, backing up important documents, or learning how to stay informed during an emergency. Emergency preparedness is a shared responsibility, and this week is a reminder that preparedness starts with you.

Some of the small steps we encourage you to consider are:

• Build or update your emergency kits—including ones for pets and vehicles. Learn more at durham.ca/Prepared.
• Talk to your family about where to meet in an emergency—choose one location in town, and one outside of it. Start your plan at durham.ca/Prepared.
• Learn how public alerting systems work by visiting durham.ca/NuclearPreparedness.
• Have questions about when to take KI pills? Visit PrepareToBeSafe.ca and find out more.

Residents who live, work, or go to school near a nuclear generating station can access Nuclear Emergency Preparedness Guides, with clear instructions on what to do in an emergency. These guides are available at durham.ca/NuclearPreparedness.

Additional information on what to put into emergency kits, help making emergency plans, Emergency Evacuation Centres, and more is available at durham.ca/Prepared.

Follow the conversation for more tips and information on social media using #EPWeek2025.

Quotes

“Just recently, Durham faced two ice storms that left many residents without power for days. There are steps we can take to reduce the impacts of these types of events—for instance, having non-perishable food and extra water on hand. Emergency preparedness is about more than checklists—it’s about peace of mind when the unexpected happens. Even just putting things you already own, like batteries, and band-aids in an easily accessible box – is a great start.”

– Jessica Eng, Acting Director, Durham Emergency Management

“We saw Durham’s resilience during the recent ice storms, and I couldn’t be prouder of how our community pulled together. But these storms were also a powerful reminder that the things we rely on every day—power, heat, internet—might not always be there when we need them most. So, ask yourself: what’s your plan? That’s the first step. Emergency preparedness doesn’t have to be overwhelming—it starts with simple choices that protect the people you care about.”